The North Carolina Collection preserves and makes available the historical record of the city and county of Durham. You'll find a wealth of materials to assist with researching North Carolina-related topics as well as several online exhibits.

Durham County Library Screens Film on Freedom Summer

Program: Remembering Freedom Summer on its 50th AnniversaryDate: Sunday, Aug. 3Time: 3 p.m.Location: Main Library, 300 N. Roxboro St.Cost: Free and open to the public

About: Durham County Library will screen a feature film based on true stories of the Freedom Summer at 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 3, at the Main Library, 300 N. Roxboro St.

Danny Glover stars in a powerful film written and directed by Phil Alden Robinson (Field of Dreams). The film tells the compelling story of the impact of the Civil Rights Movement on a small Mississippi summer in 1964. The soundtrack is provided by Sweet Honey in the Rock.

Owen, an African-American teenager inspired by the arrival of an organizer from the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), embarks on a crusade to desegregate Quinlan – even though his involvement threatens his relationship with his father. SNCC trains Owen and a group of his friends to lead peaceful protests against segregation despite brutal resistance – training them for sit-ins in public buildings and voter registration. In chronicling the effect of the movement on the volunteers, their families and community, the film places heroism squarely on the shoulders of the local people, the unsung volunteers who risked their lives to effect change at the grassroots level.

Dr. Adriane Lentz-Smith, Associate Professor of History and Director of Undergraduate Studies at Duke University, will introduce the film and lead the discussion. Lentz-Smith is the author of Freedom Struggles: African Americans and World War I.

This program is sponsored by Durham Library Foundation. For more information, contact Joanne Abel at 919-560-0268 or visit durhamcountylibrary.org.

Durham County Library encourages Discovery, connects the Community and leads in Literacy. As a department of Durham County Government, the library furthers Goal 1 of the county’s Strategic Plan by enhancing cultural, educational and creative opportunities. For more information about the library, visit durhamcountylibrary.org.